As you remove your old tile, you may wonder if you can reuse the tiles you remove. Unfortunately, doing so will not usually work. One main reason for this is that tile is often attached using mortar and epoxy. The mortar becomes another portion of the tile on the wall when it dries and, even if it comes off of the wall or floor unbroken, the bottom will not be level. All of this said, it is unlikely that you’ll be able to reuse ceramic tiles, but it is not entirely impossible. Keep reading to learn more.

Why Some People Might Want to Reuse Ceramic Tile

If you are replacing just a small section of tile, you may find you wish to reuse the existing ones since it is sometimes hard to find an exact match. Manufacturers often change things, meaning the older designs and styles might no longer be available. Alternately, you might want to try to save a bit of money on the project. If you are taking the time to redo an entire area, however, you may find it’s worth getting a new tile to ensure the best possible result.

The Effort Required

To remove tiles, you will need to place a chisel near the grout line and gently tap it to get the tile loose. It may crack or chip in the process, however. It takes a lot of time and the correct tools, so you may find it better to get new tiles.

If you do want to try to reuse ceramic tiles, you’ll need to clean and re-level them following removal. Once you have removed the tiles, you will need to soak each of the tiles in a cleaning solution and then scrape off the mortar if you want to reuse them. You can then rinse off the tiles and wipe them down. It is best to wipe a warm, wet sponge over the tile’s surface to get the rest of the dust off. You can also use some steel wool to rub over the grout, which may help it come off better. Still, you will want to avoid scratching the surface of the tile itself.

Once you have cleaned the area and there is not any remaining grout, you can give it a final wipe down and let it dry out. However, you will want to inspect the tile since this process may not get all the mortar off. If the tiles are not even, they will not lay consistently.

Another issue with reusing tile is that the ceramic is relatively brittle. Even if you were able to clean them off after removal, they could easily break. Removing tile is relatively tedious, and the process is fairly rigorous, particularly if you want to use them again. Salvaging these tiles is not very typical since they can easily break during the removal process.

More Ceramic Tile

Closing Thoughts

When it comes to ceramic tile, you are often better off purchasing new ones. In addition to saving you time, effort, and possible injury, new tiles will look nicer than ones that have been in place for a long time. The right supplier can offer you advice on picking ones that look similar to the old ones you had.

Sources:

https://www.thespruce.com/recycle-reuse-ceramic-tiles-1822599#:~:text=As%20you%20might%20expect%2C%20reusing%20ceramic%20tile%20is%20almost%20fruitless.&text=The%20reason%20is%20because%20tile,uneven%20and%20unsuitable%20for%20reuse

https://todayshomeowner.com/how-to-remove-tile-without-breaking/

https://www.stretcher.com/stories/990816d.cfm